Song of the Transport Workers — Seeing Off Fang Wen-yü on His Way to His Post as Inspector of Transportation
Boatmen,
how late you've come!
" When dry winds blow hard on the river
the spring waves can't be crossed. "
Boatmen,
how late you've come!
" The canal has sluice-gates,
the river has rapids!
Breaking our poles, fraying our ropes — always miserable!
By night, guarding against insects and rats,
by day, watching for leaks...
the official register clearly records each bushel and peck
of grain!
The government worries only that the granaries might run low;
they don't realize that south of the Huai River
people are eating each other!
The government knows only of the sufferings of soldiers;
who pities us boatmen, our strength all used up! "
Boatmen — do not lament!
Now an emissary from the Minister of Agriculture
appears on the horizon!
how late you've come!
" When dry winds blow hard on the river
the spring waves can't be crossed. "
Boatmen,
how late you've come!
" The canal has sluice-gates,
the river has rapids!
Breaking our poles, fraying our ropes — always miserable!
By night, guarding against insects and rats,
by day, watching for leaks...
the official register clearly records each bushel and peck
of grain!
The government worries only that the granaries might run low;
they don't realize that south of the Huai River
people are eating each other!
The government knows only of the sufferings of soldiers;
who pities us boatmen, our strength all used up! "
Boatmen — do not lament!
Now an emissary from the Minister of Agriculture
appears on the horizon!
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